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Admittedly old school, my parents taught me that it was not appropriate to bring up certain subjects in polite company - - - religion, politics, and sex. As Chief, I would expand the platform of taboo subjects to include never mentioning, acknowledging, or sanctioning the dreaded "M-word" (Mifflin Street) :( In spite of my perpetual novena begging the good Lord above to remove this thorn from my side, Mifflin continues to be the cross that the MPD and the taxpayers continue to bear.
While I am fiercely protective of our officers and their working conditions, I must confess that I hope the weather forecast scheduled for this coming Saturday is as bleak (and hopefully worse) as the meteorologists are predicting. Mifflin is upon us and MPD, working collaboratively with many other City agencies, is bracing ourselves for yet another edition of this annual rite of passage, known famously for the levels of drinking and debauchery that occur. (By way of a fiscal note, when you look over the past 5 years of tracking our expenses to safely deal with Mifflin, the average dollar amount is $102,654!).
But Mifflin is coming despite my prayers and protestations. I have included some instructional information in the blog to help folks better navigate the downtown area during this "event."
2019 Mifflin Street Event
The size of the Mifflin "Event" has varied from year to year. If you are traveling through the area, expect large crowds and parties in and around the W. Mifflin Street corridor. Traffic will also be impacted, especially in the areas of 400-500 W. Mifflin, N. Broom, and N. Bassett Streets. Please plan accordingly.
Public safety is our #1 goal.
There will be high number of police personnel assigned to the event and the surrounding neighborhoods. Dozens of officers from the MPD Special Event Team as well as those from the Dane County Sheriff's Office will be on foot patrolling the area. There will also be a robust mobile contingent on hand to assist with maintaining order and safety on Mifflin and throughout the Central District.
MPD's operating philosophy combines education and enforcement. People attending the event should expect to be held accountable for their behavior.
Alcohol: The Madison Department does not condone underage drinking, violent or disruptive behavior.
Persons who are of legal drinking age are able to drink on private property ONLY if they have express permission to be on the premises.
It is unlawful to procure alcohol for someone who is not 21. It is also unlawful to dispense alcohol to the public without a permit.
It is unlawful to possess open containers of alcohol on the public street or right-of-ways. This includes the street, the public terrace or any publicly owned space.
Glass Ban: The City of Madison has enacted a Glass-Free Zone for the Mifflin St area. This ban in intended to keep residents, guests and public safety personnel safe during the event. Any person carrying a glass container on public property is in violation of this ban and may be issued a city ordinance citation. The ban is in effect from 6:00am on April 27, 2019 through 6:00am April 28, 2019.
Music: Any music must be kept at a reasonable level. Amplified music that emanates beyond the boundaries of the property and deemed unreasonable might result in a noise citation.
Trash: The event routinely generates a good deal of trash on public and private property. Please be a good neighbor or guest and place trash in the proper refuse/recycling receptacle or city trash bins.
Other reminders:
There are no street closures planned. All traffic and pedestrian laws are still in place.
It is a violation to sell merchandise, alcohol, or food (even on private property) without a permit.
It is unlawful for you to be on private property without consent if the property is posted or if you were duly informed/noticed.
All ordinances and criminal statutes will be enforced.
In all seriousness, the Madison Police Department wants this to be an event that is safe for all who are in attendance. If you need police assistance during the event, please dial 911 or contact Dane County Non-Emergency Dispatch at (608) 255-2345.
The information contained in my blog is derived from notes provided by MPD Officers-In-Charge (OIC) at the end of their shifts. Most narratives represent early and preliminary information that was gathered by an OIC from those in the field who were actively working cases. The OIC is sharing what they were being told, in the moment. In many instances, facts and circumstances, even the type of crime listed, can change as officers, detectives and investigators continue their work.
From 6:00 a.m. on 4/23/2019 through 6:00 a. m. on 4/24/2019, MPD received 538 calls for service. This number does not include parking complaints or 911 misdials. For purposes of clarification, the following abbreviations are short-hand for race designations: W=White, AA=African American, NA=Native American, H=Hispanic, ME=Middle Eastern, A=Asian, MR=Mixed Race, U=Unknown. MPD shifts are staggered as follows: 1st detail=7 a.m. to 3 p.m., 2nd detail=12 p.m. to 8 p.m., 3rd detail=3 p.m. to 11 p.m., 4th detail=8 p.m. to 4 a.m., 5th detail=11 p.m. to 7 a.m.
To further break down the 538 calls for service for the past 24-hours, this is how the calls came in per district: Central (108), East (85), Midtown (91), North (82), South (59), West (59), and Other (54). Other=these are calls for service that either do not have a sector listed or the sector is not in the City. For example, if one of our officers assists another law enforcement agency, their sector is not listed in our districts so therefore it is listed under "other".
***Priority calls only from 5:23 p.m. until 5:49 p.m. due to multiple active calls for service.
1) EAST: Domestic Disturbance – 8:44 a.m. Officers responded to the 1600 block of N Thompson Dr for a report of a domestic disturbance. The suspect (29-year-old WM) and victim (25-year-old WF) got into a verbal argument which turned physical. Probable cause was determined and the suspect was arrested on a domestic charge of Disorderly Conduct. Investigation continuing.
2) CENTRAL: Disturbance – 9:15 a.m. Officers responded to Wisconsin Ave for a disturbance. Both suspects (33-year-old AAM and 23-year-old AAF) were subsequently contacted at the library on W. Mifflin St. The 33-year-old AAM suspect was arrested for Disorderly Conduct for the earlier incident and the 23-year-old AAF suspect was arrested on multiple charges from a prior MPD case including Substantial Battery, Disorderly Conduct, and Criminal Damage to Property. Investigation continuing.
3) EAST: Check Person/Missing Person – 11:07 a.m. Officers responded to Claire St for a welfare check. The subject (21-year-old AAM) left the Claire St residence Sunday afternoon and has not been seen since. Areas where the subject is known to frequent were checked by officers without success. Investigation continuing.
4) EAST: Attempt to Locate/Arrested Person – 11:59 a.m. MPD Officers located a wanted suspect (15-year-old AAM) on the east side. The suspect was arrested without incident and conveyed to JRC where he was subsequently admitted on charges of 2nd Degree Sexual Assault of a Child. Investigation continuing.
5) NORTH: Assist MFD – 12:21 p.m. MPD was dispatched to the 3500 block of Anderson St to assist MFD with an explosion at a laboratory. One victim (25-year-old WM) sustained injuries to his face and arms. Investigation continuing. MFD has the lead.
6) CENTRAL: Attempt to Locate/Arrested Person – 3:05 p.m. Officers responded to an address on E. Mifflin St to make contact with a suspect (17-year-old AAM) who was wanted for a felony warrant. The suspect was taken into custody and conveyed to JRC without incident. Investigation continuing.
7) WEST: Missing/Runaway Juvenile – 6:23 p.m. Officers responded to S Whitney Way to take a report of a missing juvenile. Grandma (56-year-old AAF) stated her grandson (13-year-old AAM) had run away earlier in the afternoon. Some mental health concerns were noted. An Attempt-to-Locate was completed and the juvenile was entered as missing in the appropriate databases. Investigation continuing.
8) MIDTOWN: Check Person – 7:01 p.m. Officers responded to a Science Dr for a subject (45-year-old WF) discovered attempting self-harm at her workplace. The subject was placed under protective custody and transported to a local hospital for evaluation. Investigation continuing.
9) EAST: Domestic Disturbance – 8:49 p.m. Officers responded to a residence on Acewood Blvd after a verbal argument between the suspect (44-year-old WM) and victim (42-year-old WF) turned physical. The suspect was arrested for Domestic Battery and conveyed to jail. Investigation continuing.
10) CENTRAL: Stolen Auto – 9:42 p.m. Officers responded to the 400 block of W Gilman St to take a report of a stolen vehicle. The victim (32-year-old AM) parked his vehicle and hours later noticed that he had dropped his keychain containing the vehicle key. When the victim responded back to the location where he had parked, the vehicle was gone. Investigation continuing.
11) CENTRAL: Residential Burglary – 9:44 p.m. Officers responded to a residence in 100 block of W Gilman St reference an attempted burglary. The victim (21-year-old WF) observed the suspects (three AAMs in their 20's) flee toward Henry St. MPD units and K9 responded and a track was attempted. Investigation continuing.
12) CENTRAL: Theft – 2:52 a.m. Officers responded to the Kelley's Market on W. Washington Ave for a report of a theft. The suspect (48-year-old AAF) was contacted nearby and arrested on charges of Theft and two counts of bail jumping and conveyed to jail. Investigation continuing.